In summer 2026, 63 students from Don State Technical University and Ulyanovsk State Technical University in Russia, Kansai Gaidai University in Japan, and Sunway University in Malaysia arrived at NCUT to participate in a series of summer exchange programs. Combining language and academic courses with cultural activities, themed lectures, and field visits, the programs offered participants opportunities to learn about contemporary China through both study and experience.

Understanding Contemporary China Summer Program

On August 2, 24 Russian students arrived at NCUT, marking the launch of the Understanding Contemporary China Summer Program. To strengthen their practical Chinese-language skills, the International School designed two integrated modules focusing on language development and cultural immersion. Using task-based learning and scenario simulations, daily classes covered practical topics such as campus life, urban transport, and food culture. Students worked in groups on speaking tasks including asking for directions, ordering food, and shopping, with quick-response activities at the end of each class to review learning outcomes.

The program also featured lectures on rural revitalization and the green economy, Beijing as a dual Olympic city, the history and culture of the Beijing Central Axis, and the development and application of artificial intelligence. Covering urban and rural development, urban governance, cultural heritage, and technological innovation, the lectures helped participants understand contemporary China from multiple perspectives. Students engaged actively and showed a strong interest in China's development experience.

Cultural activities included paper cutting, the hulusi, a traditional Chinese gourd flute, and Chinese painting. Russian students performed Katyusha on the hulusi, bringing Russian and Chinese melodies together, while participants tried their hand at freehand-style lotus painting. Each class offered a direct encounter with Chinese culture.

Beyond the classroom, Beijing itself became a broader learning space. Visits to Shougang Park, the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Huangyukou Village, and the Daxing International Hydrogen Energy Demonstration Zone introduced students to industrial transformation, historic architecture and gardens, rural revitalization, and green technology, helping them develop a fuller understanding of China.

Kansai Gaidai University Summer Language and Culture Exchange Program

On August 15, 14 students from Kansai Gaidai University arrived at NCUT for a summer program in Chinese language and culture, continuing the long-standing friendship and exchanges between the two universities.

The program combined morning language classes with afternoon cultural activities, incorporating ink painting, tea culture, Peking Opera, the hulusi, and traditional Beijing snacks. These engaging activities made language learning more enjoyable and helped the students grow increasingly confident and involved. Through language learning and cultural immersion, they gained a first-hand view of contemporary China as open, vibrant, and dynamic.

Outside the classroom, the International School organized visits to the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and Shougang Park. The students explored Beijing's rich historical heritage at the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven and experienced the city's modern transformation at Shougang Park. The contrast gave them a stronger appreciation of Beijing's distinctive blend of past and present.

International AI Summer Camp

On August 31, 11 students from Malaysia, 12 from Russia, and 2 from Mauritius arrived at NCUT for the International AI Summer Camp. The camp was a 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship International Summer School Program approved for NCUT.

The camp combined academic courses, company visits, and cultural activities. Students studied Fundamentals of Database Technology and Machine Learning through lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions, integrating theory with practice. They also visited Beijing Tinian Technology Co., Ltd. and Baidu, where they learned about advances in artificial intelligence and real-world industrial applications. Cultural activities included visits to the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, as well as Huangyukou Village in Yanqing District, where students picked apples and sampled local food, gaining first-hand experience of China's history, landscapes, rural life, and cultural diversity.

The summer programs strengthened NCUT's cooperation with partner universities and enriched its international summer activities, while building experience for future faculty and student exchanges, cultural engagement, and academic collaboration. NCUT will continue to use language and culture as bridges, build on its existing partnerships, and provide more platforms for exchanges and mutual learning among young people from China and around the world.